With the announcement of an interim allocation of Rs 95,692.31 crore to states and Union Territories, the Union Ministry of Rural Development has doubled the total funding commitment under rural employment initiatives to more than 1.25 lakh crore, a significant step toward rural development and job creation.
The allocation, along with the previously sanctioned Rs 30,000 crore under MGNREGA, demonstrates the Centre’s dedication to enhancing rural infrastructure, creating jobs, and improving livelihoods across villages, according to Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who chaired a virtual meeting of Rural Development Ministers from states and Union Territories.
The minister assured the public that development projects at the community level would receive strong financial backing, saying that the monies will reach approximately 2.8 lakh gram panchayats nationwide. He claims that the program is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goals of creating a prosperous and economically independent rural India through continued funding and government assistance.
Chouhan stressed that states must make sure there is no disruption to job creation or salary payments to employees when the new Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (VB-GRAM-G) takes effect on July 1. As soon as the new framework is operational, he ordered the states to start identifying and approving development activities so that implementation can start right away.
The minister emphasised the significance of openness and effectiveness, noting that numerous states have implemented Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), SMS-based information systems, e-KYC verification, and face authentication technologies. These will aid in the timely payment of benefits and the improved monitoring of welfare programs.
According to him, 26 states have already allocated funds in accordance with Viksit Bharat – Gramin Bharat’s goals, and the remaining four states—Jharkhand, Karnataka, Telangana, and Mizoram—have been instructed to do so as soon as possible. Additionally, Chouhan promised to personally contact these states’ chief ministers in order to speed up the planning process.
As a result of their work in releasing notifications pertaining to the new arrangement, the minister commended Mizoram, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh and called on other states to speed up the implementation process. In addition, he mandated that states educate the public about agricultural peak seasons, implement district and block-level capacity-building programs, and reach full e-KYC coverage.
The overall interim allocation now stands at 95,692.31 crore, with an additional 1,850.62 crore set aside for central administration and social audit initiatives. Regional development, rural infrastructure, and the creation of long-term job possibilities will all be bolstered, according to the government.
The disbursement of Rs 95,692 crore is a significant step towards funding rural development, making it one of the greatest efforts of its kind in recent times. The government is planning to launch the VB-GRAM-G Mission on July 1 with total funding for MGNREGA now topping Rs 1.25 lakh crore. The goals of this funding are to increase employment opportunities, upgrade rural infrastructure, and promote inclusive growth in all villages.
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